OCEAN'S 8

OCEAN'S 8 isn't the "feminist" response to the OCEAN'S 11 franchise, but it is the female version of those earlier movies, containing many of the same tropes, just feminized, and even the convention of two top stars carrying the bulk of the action (the male versions being George Clooney and Brad Pitt, the female ones Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett) but supported by a cast so independently talented half or more of the pleasure of watching these flicks is the actors riffing through their roles with skill and charm.

In this case the cast is smaller (I assume intended to leave room for sequels 9 and 10) and the two leads not as familiarly cozy (it's almost impossible to not see Pitt and Clooney as actual mutually teasing buddies in real life, whether they are or not, a little more challenging with Bullock and Blanchett), but nonetheless the film worked for me as entertaining and fulfilling in the way of a familiar but favorite dessert. So I say enjoy.

[PS: the direction is smooth and the pacing well done, so credit to director Gay Ross and his editor, and the writing the same, so credit to Ross's co-screenwriter Olivia Milch (full disclosure, I've been around her off and on since she was a baby and was always impressed with her independent spirit and intelligence so not surprised)]